Lecture 2: Theories of Developmental Psychology Flashcards
psychoanalytic theory
focuses on the development and dynamics of the personality
- people are driven by motives and emotional conflicts of which they are largely unconscious
- developed by Sigmund Freud and rewritten by Erik Erikson
learning theory
developed by Pavlov, Watson, Skinner, and Bandura
cognitive development theory
one supporter is Piaget
systems theory
explained by Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological model
nature vs nurture
is development only the product of nature (biology) or also of the environment (nurture)
critical period
a specific time window in which an individual must experience a certain environmental stimulus in order to develop normally
imprinting
a phenomenon where some species of newborn animals rapidly form a strong attachment to their caregiver shortly after birth
- Lorenz and ducklings
sensitive period
a time period in which an individual is particularly able to acquire as well as develop new skills
activity vs passivity
the extent to which people are active in creating and influencing their own environment and their own development
continuity vs discontinuity
are the changes people undergo gradual or abrupt
universality vs context
the extent to which developmental changes are the same for all people (universal) or different in cultures, tasks and individuals (context specific)
psychosexual phases
- oral phase
- anal phase
- phallic phase
- latent phase
- genital phase
oral phase
- birth - 1 year
- the libido is focused on the mouth as a source of pleasure
- oral gratification from mother figure
- fixation leads to thumb-sucking, chain-smoking, and over-dependence on others
anal phase
- 1 year - 3 years
- libido is focused on the anus
- potty training creates a conflict between biological urges and the demands of society
- fixation leads to fear and turning away from authorities
phallic phase
- 3 years to 6 years
- the libido is focused on the genitals
- resolution of the Oepidus (in boys) or Electra complex (in girls) leads to identification with the same-sex parent and development of the superego
- Oepidus and Electra complex is the lust for the parent of the opposite sex
latent phase
- 6 years to 12 years
- the libido remains quiet
- child’s energy goes to school and playing with friends of the same sex
genital phase
- 12 years and older
- puberty awakens the sexual instincts, when young people want to enter into an adult sexual relationship and fulfill the biological goal of reproduction
repression
the removal of unacceptable or traumatic thoughts/memories from the conscious mind
- can result in having no memory at all of a traumatic event
regression
falling back to an earlier and less traumatic phase of development
Erik Erikson
- like Freud, researched personality dynamics and also assumed developmental stages
- however, placed less emphasis on sexual drives and more emphasis on social influences
psychosocial stages
- trust vs distrust
- autonomy vs shame and doubt
- initiative vs regret
- industry vs inferiority
- identity vs role confusion
- intimacy vs isolation
- generativity vs stagnation
- integrity vs despair
trust vs distrust
- birth to 1 year
- babies must learn to trust their carers to meet their needs
- responsive parenting is necessary, if failing to do this, children will distrust others
autonomy vs shame and doubt
- 1 year to 3 years
- children must learn to be autonomous
- must learn to know their own will and do things for themselves
- when this fails, they will doubt their abilities
initiative vs regret
- 3 years to 6 years
- pre-school children develop initiative by thinking up and executing grand plans
- have to learn not to let this clash with the rights of other people
industry vs inferiority
- 6 years to 12 years
- children need to acquire important social and academic skills and keep up with their peers
- if this fails, they will feel inferior
identity vs role confusion
- 12 years to 20 years
- adolescents wonder who they are, and they need to acquire social and academic identities
- otherwise they will remain confused about the role they should have as adults
- Erikson sees adolescence as a period of identity crisis
intimacy vs isolation
- 20 years to 40 years
- young adults seek some form of shared identity with another person
- may fear intimacy and be lonely and isolated
generativity vs stagnation
- 40 years to 65 years
- adults need to feel that they are doing something for society/next generation
- otherwise they get stuck and become self-centered
integrity vs despair
- 65+ years
- older adults should see their lives as meaningful when faced with death
- should not have worries and regrets
Watson’s behaviorism
- based on the conviction that you should make conclusions about human development on the basis of behavioral observation and not on the basis of unconscious cognitive and emotional processes
- thus rejected psychoanalytic theory